What happened to Danielle Ballard? All you need to know about the former LSU Star

Modified Jul 14, 2023 14:59 GMT

Former LSU Tiger Danielle Ballard was struck by a car hours earlier and died in a Memphis hospital.

Former Louisiana State Fighting Tigers star Danielle Ballard died after being involved in a car accident at around 1:30 AM in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. She was reportedly crossing an intersection when she was struck by a car.

Ballard was in critical condition after the hit and was brought to the Regional One Hospital by a rescue team. The hospital announced later that she passed away. She was only 29 years old.

The driver of the aforementioned vehicle stayed while the rescue was ongoing and the Memphis Police Department started its investigation. MPD hasn’t announced a criminal charge at the moment.

Ballard’s alma mater promptly posted a message on Twitter after she was announced dead:

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“LSU mourns the loss of Danielle Ballard.”

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The university also released a statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle. She meant a great deal to our program and was such a big part of our women's basketball family. It's difficult to understand why this happened to someone who was so full of life and had so much promise. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”

Danielle Ballard played three seasons for LSU. She played 81 games for the Fighting Tigers and averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.9 assists.

The hard-nosed combo guard made it to the All-SEC first-team in her last year as a junior at LSU. She was named the school’s MVP. In 2014, the sophomore led the team to the Sweet 16, where she averaged 23.3 PPG and 12.3 RPG.

Danielle Ballard did not return for her final year at LSU

Ballard did not return for her senior year at LSU.

After a spectacular junior campaign where she was named LSU’s MVP, Danielle Ballard announced that she wouldn't be returning for her senior year. The decision was somewhat of a surprise.

Ballard was suspended for the first 14 games of the 2014-15 season for reportedly violating team rules. LSU coach Nikki Caldwell refused to give details about the incident. Caldwell initially suspended her indefinitely.

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Despite the late start, Ballard had her best performance for the Fighting Tigers in her junior year.

Also read: Details emerge on LSU's Hailey Van Lith's NIL deal with Adidas: How will exhibit SELECT change women's basketball?

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero